(A) Discrimination prohibited. No cable communications company shall make any unjust or unreasonable discrimination in rates, charges, classifications, promotions, practices, regulations, facilities or services for or in connection with like services, nor subject any person to any prejudice or disadvantage in any respect whatsoever; provided, however, that, this shall not be deemed to prohibit the establishment of a graded scale of charges and classifications of rates to which any subscriber coming within the classification shall be entitled.
(B) Schedule of rates and charges. No rate or charge for installation or basic cable communications service provided in the Township of Williamstown shall be effective, nor shall any cable communications company advertise, collect or receive any rate or charge for its services, until it shall have filed a complete schedule of rates and charges with the Clerk of the Township of Williamstown and until the rates and charges shall have been approved by the Township Board. The charges made for services of the franchisee hereunder shall be fair and reasonable and no higher than necessary to meet all costs of the service (assuming efficient and economical management), and provide a fair return to the franchisee. The franchisee shall receive no consideration whatsoever for its service other than in accordance with this section or the franchise agreement without approval of the Board. The applicant for a franchise shall include in its application its proposed rates, charges and deposits.
(C) Increasing rates. No cable communications company may increase any rate or charge for cable communication service, or alter any classification, contract, rule, regulation or practice as to result in any increase in its schedule of rates or charges for the service without the prior approval of the increased rate or charge or alteration in its classification, contract, rule, regulation or practice by the Township Board after public hearing thereon. The public hearing shall be noted at least ten days in advance in a newspaper of general circulation in the township. At the public hearing, the cable communications company shall set forth in detail the basis of its requested increase in rates or charges for service or alteration practice, including the reasonableness and lawfulness thereof. In the determination of just, reasonable and lawful rates and charges the Board shall consider and give weight to all lawful elements properly to be considered, including expenses, a reasonable return on the cost of the property used in the service, depreciation, obsolescence, taxes, risks of the business and value of service to the customer. The Board shall render its decision, with respect to any request by the franchisee, for a rate increase within 90 days of the date of the request, unless franchise shall stipulate in writing to an extension of the 90-day period.
(Ord. 23, eff. 3-20-1981; Ord. rev. 9- -1993)